Comments on: The Art of (Speaking About) Intermarriage http://www.InterfaithFamily.com/blogs/Network/intermarriage/the-art-of-speaking-about-intermarriage/ Everything you always wanted to know about intermarriage, but were afraid to ask. Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:40:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: h. http://www.InterfaithFamily.com/blogs/Network/intermarriage/the-art-of-speaking-about-intermarriage/#comment-231 h. Fri, 21 Dec 2007 19:25:13 +0000 http://www.InterfaithFamily.com/blogs/Network/intermarriage/the-art-of-speaking-about-intermarriage/#comment-231 i am not Orthodox, and have no desires to ever become observant. why? just like Ms. Kustanowitz decided that intermarriage wasn't for her, i've decided that living an observant lifestyle isn't for me. we are all entitled to our opinions. it doesn't make us horrible people. if Ms. Kustanowitz only wants to date Jews, then that's her choice. if i don't want to wear long skirts, that's my choice. i am still Jewish, regardless of what you think simply because i'm not Orthodox. no offense, but you can't convince people to date and marry within their faith by scaring them with these notions of "enemies" and "the end is near." people are not going to frightened into same-faith relationships by family and community pressure. they have to want them, just as Ms. Kustanowitz does. she did not tell her audience that in-marriage is the only way to go. she simply said it was the only way for her. i'm sure she realizes that many young Jews do interdate and intermarry. does she go out of her way to treat them disrespectfully? she may disagree with their choices, but if she's a decent human (which i'm sure she is) then she'll simply go about her own life and continue to seek out a Jewish man for herself. while i commend the Orthodox for their dedication to Jewish continuity, they should not be placed on a pedestal, because believe it or not no one is perfect. they may be the most observant of the denominations, but they are not immune to problems. in the end, they are human beings just like anyone else. i am not Orthodox, and have no desires to ever become observant. why? just like Ms. Kustanowitz decided that intermarriage wasn’t for her, i’ve decided that living an observant lifestyle isn’t for me. we are all entitled to our opinions. it doesn’t make us horrible people. if Ms. Kustanowitz only wants to date Jews, then that’s her choice. if i don’t want to wear long skirts, that’s my choice. i am still Jewish, regardless of what you think simply because i’m not Orthodox.

no offense, but you can’t convince people to date and marry within their faith by scaring them with these notions of “enemies” and “the end is near.” people are not going to frightened into same-faith relationships by family and community pressure. they have to want them, just as Ms. Kustanowitz does. she did not tell her audience that in-marriage is the only way to go. she simply said it was the only way for her. i’m sure she realizes that many young Jews do interdate and intermarry. does she go out of her way to treat them disrespectfully? she may disagree with their choices, but if she’s a decent human (which i’m sure she is) then she’ll simply go about her own life and continue to seek out a Jewish man for herself.

while i commend the Orthodox for their dedication to Jewish continuity, they should not be placed on a pedestal, because believe it or not no one is perfect. they may be the most observant of the denominations, but they are not immune to problems. in the end, they are human beings just like anyone else.

]]> By: anti-intermarriage http://www.InterfaithFamily.com/blogs/Network/intermarriage/the-art-of-speaking-about-intermarriage/#comment-225 anti-intermarriage Wed, 19 Dec 2007 05:36:17 +0000 http://www.InterfaithFamily.com/blogs/Network/intermarriage/the-art-of-speaking-about-intermarriage/#comment-225 I'm furious that half-Jews or barely Jewish Gentiles would criticize Esther about her decision to only date Jews. Real Jews would understand why it's important to date only within our faith. Unbelievable! The enemy is inflitriating within and we have to stop it for the sake of our ancestors. No Micah, the future Jewish leadership will not be fradulent Jews. Maybe in the loony Reform Movement but not in the majority of Jewish groups. People like you forget that the Orthodoxy is growing by leaps and bounds because of their large families, low divorce rate, practically non-existant intermarriage. The liberal Jewish congregations have high intermarriages with high divorce rates and few children. Most of their children will not be Jewish. I'm not saying that children of intermarriage can't be Jewish. They would have to convert of their mother's aren't Jewish. If their mother's are Jewish and they were brought up within the faith than they are Jewish. I've met individuals with only Jewish father's who converted because they respect the laws of Judaism. Not like "interfaith family" which wants Judaism to change. Orthodoxy is the future of Judiasm and it's obvious why groups like this one and other liberal "Jewish" groups are ignoring it. The future makes me optimistic because God wil make sure that Real Judaism survives. I’m furious that half-Jews or barely Jewish Gentiles would criticize Esther about her decision to only date Jews. Real Jews would understand why it’s important to date only within our faith. Unbelievable! The enemy is inflitriating within and we have to stop it for the sake of our ancestors.
No Micah, the future Jewish leadership will not be fradulent Jews. Maybe in the loony Reform Movement but not in the majority of Jewish groups.
People like you forget that the Orthodoxy is growing by leaps and bounds because of their large families, low divorce rate, practically non-existant intermarriage. The liberal Jewish congregations have high intermarriages with high divorce rates and few children. Most of their children will not be Jewish.
I’m not saying that children of intermarriage can’t be Jewish. They would have to convert of their mother’s aren’t Jewish. If their mother’s are Jewish and they were brought up within the faith than they are Jewish. I’ve met individuals with only Jewish father’s who converted because they respect the laws of Judaism. Not like “interfaith family” which wants Judaism to change.
Orthodoxy is the future of Judiasm and it’s obvious why groups like this one and other liberal “Jewish” groups are ignoring it. The future makes me optimistic because God wil make sure that Real Judaism survives.

]]>